New York, January 5, 2026, 20:26 EST — Market closed
- KLA shares rose 6.3% to $1,352.45 on Monday, outpacing major chip-equipment peers.
- Applied Materials, Lam Research and U.S.-listed ASML also gained more than 5% in the session.
- Traders are watching CES updates and whether the chip-equipment rally holds into Tuesday’s open.
KLA Corp (KLAC) shares climbed 6.3% on Monday to $1,352.45, extending a strong start to 2026 for semiconductor equipment makers.
That matters because KLA’s tools help chipmakers spot defects and improve “yield” — the share of usable chips produced — making the stock a frequent read-through on spending at fabrication plants, known as fabs. 1
The latest bid followed fresh CES headlines out of Las Vegas, where Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang rolled out new chips and autonomy-focused artificial intelligence models. “The ChatGPT moment for physical AI is here,” Huang said, Axios reported. 2
KLA’s move came alongside sharp gains in peers: Applied Materials rose 5.7%, Lam Research added 5.3% and U.S.-listed ASML climbed 5.5%. The iShares Semiconductor ETF and VanEck Semiconductor ETF ended up 1.4% and 1.2%, respectively.
With the market closed, attention turns to whether the rally translates into orders when equipment makers next report results. In its latest outlook, KLA forecast fiscal second-quarter revenue of $3.225 billion plus or minus $150 million and non-GAAP, or adjusted, earnings of $8.70 plus or minus $0.78 per share. 1
Investors also keep a close eye on China, a major end market that has become harder to serve as Washington tightens export rules on advanced chip gear. In October, KLA said U.S.-China trade tensions could cut sales by $300 million to $350 million over the next five quarters. 3
But after Monday’s jump, the stock is more exposed to any stumble in the AI-led spending narrative, or a broader pullback in risk appetite across tech. A cautious tone from big chipmakers or fresh export-control frictions could hit the group quickly.
On the chart, traders are watching whether KLAC holds above $1,300 and can challenge Monday’s intraday high near $1,372. A dip back toward the prior close around $1,273 would test whether momentum is fading.
Next up is the flow of CES updates as Nvidia’s showcase runs from Jan. 6-8, a near-term test of whether enthusiasm around new AI hardware and robotics carries into Tuesday’s U.S. session. 4
